Lord Of The Flies By William Golding - 818 Words

William Golding’s survivalist, dystopian novel, Lord of the Flies, reveals the civilizing influence of good order and discipline in human society, and the consequences of the absence of these conditions. Throughout the work, Golding’s employment of the conch shell as a symbol illustrates the importance of authority, discipline, and civility in the young boys’ lives on the island. In the first place, the conch represents authority on the island. Undoubtedly, Ralph retrieves the conch shell out of the water with the prospect of power in mind. Piggy comments, â€Å"‘Ralph!†... â€Å"We can use this to call the others. Have a meeting. They’ll come when they hear us—† ...â€Å"That was what you meant, didn’t you? That’s why you got the conch out of the†¦show more content†¦Hence, Ralph is evaluating the situation and the children s response by holding up the conch. The children respond, â€Å"Let him be chief with the trumpet-thing† (Golding, 22). Clearly, Ralph is using the conch to establish authority on the island. In the second place, Ralph uses the conch to discipline the children on the island. Golding writes, â€Å"They obeyed the summons of the conch, partly because Ralph blew it, and he was big enough to be a link with the adult world of authority† (59). Indeed, this clearly demonstrates established authority, and the children obey Ralph because he displays leadership ability. The children see the conch as a powerful instrument, worthy of reverent obedience. Ralph further introduces discipline by using the conch to silence the children when he wants to address them at the meeting. Golding writes, â€Å"Ralph smiled and held up the conch for silence† (23). To clarify, Ralph holds up the conch, indicating that he displays the conch as a symbol of his demand for obedience. Golding says, â€Å"there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch† (22). Once again, the conch in this case commands respect and establishe s obedience. In the third place, the conch inaugurates civility amongst the children. As an example, during one of the meetings, Jack silently requests to hold the conch to speak, â€Å"Jack held out his hands for the conch...holding the delicate thing